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sunset

n. C / U
A1 Beginner US //ˈsənˌsɛt// UK //sˈʌnsɛt// sun·set

n. the time in the evening when the sun goes down and the sky changes color. It also means the end of something, like a law or a business deal.

n. the daily disappearance of the sun below the western horizon. In a figurative or legal context, it refers to the gradual decline or the scheduled termination of a program, law, or agreement.


SIMPLE

We watched the beautiful sunset from the beach.

CONTEXTUAL

The new tax law includes a sunset clause, meaning it will automatically expire in five years unless the government renews it.

COMPLEX

As the industry moved toward digital solutions, the company began the sunset of its legacy hardware support to focus resources on emerging technologies.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English son-sett, Sonne set, equivalent to sun + set. In Gower's Confessio Amantis, before 1393.

Usage

Countable when referring to the daily event; often used as a modifier in business (e.g., 'sunset clause' or 'sunset provision') to describe the planned phase-out of a product or policy.

Idioms1 entry

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